Friday, April 30, 2010

Does the image above look strikingly familiar to you? If you've ever seen Madonna's 1989 "Express Yourself" video, probably so. It's actually a still from Christina Aguilera's much-anticipated upcoming music video for her new single, "Not Myself Tonight."

Fortunately, Christina opted against wearing a Jean-Paul Gaultier cone bustier for her video vixen moment, sparkling in a plunging gold-and-black bathing suit by New York duo The Blonds. The piece was featured in the label's Fall 2010 collection, but looks as if it could have been made for Christina.

Another still from the video features Christina in a latex ensemble licking milk out of a bowl. Guess who did that over twenty years ago, y'all? No other than Madonna.

Christina will perform "Not Myself Tonight" at the American Idol season finale, scheduled for mid May.

Time magazine has released its annual list of the "Time 100," the world's most influential people, and some very famous faces made the list.

Glee star Lea Michele was recognized for her role on the hit TV show, which has been praised for encouraging kids to get involved in music programs. No word on why she was included instead some of the series' other stars, but kudos nonetheless.

The ever-fabulous Lady Gaga also made the cut, and why not? Cyndi Lauper said of the pop songstress, "Lady Gaga's art captures the period we're in right now."

Glee star Lea Michele has denied reports she and her TV teacher Matthew Morrison were once an item.

Tabloid reports suggest the actress/singer and Morrison, who plays music teacher Will Schuester on Glee, dated when they were both stars on Broadway in 2007.

Michele, who plays Schuester's star pupil on the show, says, "I’ve known Matt for years. He’s been a friend of mine from New York. People are going to make things up. I think it’s just because we really are so close."

The actress/singer has revealed she is dating a fellow thespian, but refuses to name him: "He’s a theatre guy. He works on Broadway."

Pals Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow buddy up Wednesday night at the Bent on Learning benefit in N.Y.C. The organization offers Yoga instruction in the city's public schools, designed to promote health and self-esteem.

If the tables had been turned during their late-night dispute, Conan O'Brien says he knows what he would – and wouldn't – have done to Jay Leno.

"He went and took that show back and I think in a similar situation, if roles had been reversed, I know – I know me, I wouldn't have done that," O'Brien, 47, says in his first post-Tonight Show interview, scheduled to air on 60 Minutes Sunday.

In the interview, the new TBS late-night host tells Steve Kroft that he would not have "surrendered The Tonight Show and handed it over to somebody publicly and wished them well – and then … six months later… But that's me, you know."

Adding that "Everyone's got their own, you know, way of doing things," O'Brien, who's been on the road for his 30-date North American tour, says if he had been in Leno's shoes, he would've "done something else, go someplace else."

Leaving NBC, he says, was like severing a "toxic" relationship, especially one he didn't see having a future with.

And though he may negotiated with the network, O'Brien says he "started to feel that I'm not sure these people even really want me here."

In newly released images from his summer action movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which opens May 28th, Jake Gyllenhaal shows off a seriously buff bod.

Gyllenhaal, 29, worked hard to bulk up for the role, for which he also trained in parkour (the sport of running, jumping and climbing over obstacles).

"It's a physical role," he told fans at the Wondercon convention in San Francisco earlier this month. "I never did anything this intensive before [to transform my body]. When you are committed, you are committed."

But hey, why not? Said Gyllenhall: "It was so much fun to get paid to get tanned and get in shape."

Thursday, April 29, 2010

This is a terrific interview with the always entertaining Chris Colfer who plays gay high school student Kurt on Glee.

In Tuesday’s episode, Kurt was front and center with a big solo number and a plotline that had his dad and Finn’s mom starting to date. It’s Kurt’s way of getting closer to Finn but backfires when he feels like the object of his affection is the son his dad always wanted.

The actor has talked at length to the NY Post’s PopWatch column and here are some excerpts:

PW: In addition to the costumes, I hear there is some really intense stuff for Kurt in the GaGa episode, true?Chris: We’ve definitely got some of our best stuff coming up. I definitely think there’s more of an emotional roller coaster that the club goes in, and Kurt specifically. We shot the most emotional scene that I’ve ever done – myself and Mike O’Malley as Burt and Kurt – a week ago for the Lady GaGa episode. I think the response to that is going to be great. I think it’s going to be more of a reaction than we got from “Preggers” or “Wheels.” It’s pretty intense.

PW: Is the finale also going to leave us in tears?Chris: Yea. Oh I’m getting chills just thinking about it. You take us – the actors – and then us – the characters – and rewind a year ago to when we did the pilot. You really see how much we’ve all grown as individuals and how much our characters have grown in the show. Take all that and add the music they chose for Regionals and it’s very emotional. It’s so special to us and I hope fans are just as emotional towards it as we are.

PW: One of the big plans for season two is introducing a boyfriend for Kurt, any idea if you’ll have a say in casting?Chris: I have no idea how it’s going to work out. I’ll play it by ear, I’m sure we’ll be reading with the new characters and since we’ll be a couple, I’m guessing I’ll be there to make sure there’s no awkwardness. But hopefully I have no input, because I’m very vain and the only input I really want to give is that I need to be the better looking half of the couple. I don’t want to be the weak link or have people think, “What’s he doing with Kurt?”

PW: Are you excited to portray the next step in an emerging gay’s journey?Chris: I really am and I get more and more excited every day. I know it’s going to bring up so much more great stuff with Kurt & Burt – I live for the father/son scenes. It’s so special. And I think there’s going to be a lot of good comedy stuff that’s going to come out of it as well, which is good because I feel like so much of what I’ve done has been dramatic. I want to stretch my comedy legs as well.

When you're the World's Most Beautiful Woman, there are a few things to always remember before leaving the house: Brush your teeth. Don't take longer than the kids to get ready. And leave certain things (hair color and waxing) to trained professionals. Or so says Julia Roberts in an exclusive Q & A to celebrate her fourth turn as the cover girl for People Magazine's Most Beautiful issue.

Though it's hard to believe it's been 20 years since Roberts starred in Pretty Woman, her relaxed vibe about beauty has served her well over the years. "She's never looked more beautiful," says Ryan Murphy, the director of her upcoming film, Eat, Pray, Love, based on the huge bestseller. "She is so happy and fulfilled and it shows."

At 42, the mom of three (twins Hazel and Phinnaeus are 5 and Henry is 2) signed her first beauty contract in January to become Lancome's global ambassador. "It's fun to find myself with this type of new career at my advanced age!" she writes about the gig, in the issue on newsstands Friday.

While Roberts still wows on her rare red-carpet appearances, her beauty team reveals that it never takes more than two hours to get her ready – even for the Oscars. "There is nothing contrived," says her longtime hairdresser Serge Normant. "She believes you have to be comfortable – you have to have a good time."

Still, she does have a few beauty tricks up her sleeve. According to Genevieve, her makeup artist, Roberts uses a moisturizing tint (no heavy foundation – ever), followed by a creamy blush. "Her skin is amazing," says Genevieve. Then comes Roberts's fave part: eyeliner – smudged and sexy. "It's something she can't live without," notes Genevieve. Two coats of mascara, followed by a natural sexy lip "not too shiny" and she can put those 20-something starlets to shame.

But, at home, Roberts favors a more relaxed look: makeup-free and often in yoga pants. It's all part of her easy home life that she's embraced since marrying cameraman Danny Moder, 41. "She seems to have made peace with everything," says Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall, a longtime pal. "He is a laid-back guy. Surfing is his big thing. He's not a driving ambitious husband. They kind of enjoy being with each other without a big circus." And the kids? "They are very cute and have a great joie de vivre, which Julia always had," he says.

Even her old pal George Clooney agrees she's as beautiful inside as out. "There's a reason why Julia is a timeless beauty, and it has nothing to do with the way she looks," he says. "It has everything to do with who she is."

So who else has been selected by People as "Most Beautiful"? Well, you will have to pick-up this Friday's edition of People for details.

It has been 20 years since Elton John was a pallbearer at his friend Ryan White's funeral. But the music legend has never forgotten the impact the brave teenager had on educating the world about living with AIDS.

In memorial to White, who died at age 18 in 1990 of complications from the disease, the music legend will perform Wednesday night at a fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

"Ryan dedicated his life to helping future generations of children," his mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, said in a statement. "This event will celebrate Ryan's life and his efforts to fight against AIDS discrimination, as well as to help continue his efforts of education."

White contracted the disease after a blood transfusion – and he became a symbol of hope during a time when fear and misconceptions about AIDS were prevalent.

The world is abuzz about what until now had been the best kept secret in Hollywood – Sandra Bullock's adorable, newly adopted son.

The Oscar winner's exclusive People Magazine interview and pictures with 3½-month-old Louis Bardo Bullock – on newsstands Friday – mark the first inside peek at Bullock's life since she learned of her soon-to-be ex-husband's indiscretions. Fans immediately took to Facebook and Twitter to congratulate Bullock and comment on the news, with their reactions ranging from delight to declaring her an "inspiration."

"Sandra is a true role model for young women to learn how to handle themselves in good and bad times, class act, with style and grace abounding," wrote someone who identified herself simply as Jacquelynn, while OnlyOneSher Tweeted: "How can you not think happy thoughts for Sandra Bullock? She deserves it and deserves to be happy! Congratulations!"

Still more people were impressed with her decision to adopt and excited over just how cute Louis is. Here are a few enthusiastic reactions:

• "Bravo for adopting an American baby Sandra ... it is nice that you are helping kids that need love here," wrote one reader.• "Just amazing!!! She will be a great Momma ... The smile on her face says it all ... Beautiful," posted another.• "I just let out a joyful scream, Good for Sandra!!! She deserves all of the happiness in the world! I am so happy for her and baby Louis! Good for her!" stated Danielle.• "Sandra Bullock is my hero," MsStar215 Tweeted.• "You are an inspiration in so many ways, most recently to those of us trying to adopt. Thanks for being you!" wrote Linda on Facebook.

Many comments also took shots at her two-timing husband, Jesse James, as Bullock also revealed to People that she has filed for divorce.

"Kick that joker to the curb, grab your baby, and keep it moving," wrote Edie. Another echoed, "Good example of when it's time to let go and move on."

Reader Meghan summed up what most were posting: "Best wishes to the new Bullock family and strong single moms everywhere."

Meet Sandra Bullock's baby! For the whole story – including photos of her son Louis, an emotional interview about her breakup with Jesse James and her life as a new mom – pick up the new issue of People, on newsstands Friday.

She's one of Hollywood's most famous faces, but Katie Holmes will soon be one of the country's most famous first ladies – at least on the small screen.

The actress has signed on to star in The Kennedys, an eight-hour mini series premiering in 2011 on the History Channel, as Jacqueline Kennedy, alongside Greg Kinnear, British actor Tom Wilkinson and Barry Pepper, the network said Wednesday.

Kinnear, who was most recently seen in The Last Song with Miley Cyrus, stars as President John F. Kennedy, while Pepper will play the role of Robert Kennedy. Wilkinson, who played Benjamin Franklin in 2008's John Adams, will portray Joe Kennedy Sr.

The American Idol judges had (almost) nothing but praise Tuesday, when the remaining contestants performed songs by country superstar Shania Twain. But someone had to go.

Siobhan Magnus was the one who lost favor with Idol voters this week.

Ryan Seacrest, bidding her farewell, saluted her “independent spirit, laser focus, incredible work ethic” — but her problem was probably her mannerisms, notably the way she’d end a number by throwing back her head and sending out a high note that would have unnerved the Phantom of the Opera. After she performed Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” Tuesday night, Simon had observed that she sounded as if she were giving birth.

Still, I wasn’t expecting her to go home this week. And I didn’t expect Casey James to wind up again in the bottom two, especially given how pleased the judges were with the new pop sensibility he showed singing Twain’s “Don’t.”

Michael Lynche, the one singer saved by the judges this season, rounded out the bottom three. No shock — his weekly survival has become problematic — but he told Ryan there was “no shame” in that, considering how well all the finalists had done this time.

It’s harder to understand why voters keep sending Aaron Kelly to safety. Except that Aaron is 17, looks younger, sings older and is vulnerable. Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox apparently remain invulnerable. Even if Crystal gave a fairly colorless performance this week, the public forgives her, as do the judges. “I don’t think America’s that fickle,” said Ellen.

Of the live musical performers, the best was a barefoot Shakira, singing “Gypsy” with Rascal Flatts. She was charming, and quoted Teddy Roosevelt as a source of inspiration: “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

Next week, the five remaining finalists will be mentored by Harry Connick, Jr. and will be performing Frank Sinatra classics.

An inquest into the death of Alexander McQueen has found the fashion designer ingested a cocktail of drugs before hanging himself at his London home in February - the tragedy has been officially ruled a suicide.

The star's body was found in a wardrobe at his apartment in the U.K. capital in February, and a post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of asphyxiation and hanging.

At an inquest into McQueen's death, which was held in London on Wednesday, a coroner's officer told the court the designer had become depressed after his mum Joyce died earlier this year.

Lynda Martindill said, "He had been particularly close to his mother and following her death had become overwhelmed with grief."

The hearing was told McQueen had a history of depression and insomnia, and had tried to kill himself in the past. He had also researched suicide methods on the internet.

Toxicology tests on McQueen's body showed he had taken cocaine, sleeping pills, and tranquillisers prior to his death.

The fashion designer's psychiatrist, Dr Stephen Pereira, told Westminster Coroner's Court that McQueen was also feeling under pressure with his work.

Dr Pereira said, "He certainly felt very pressured by his work, but it was a double-edged sword. He felt it was the only area of his life where he felt he had achieved something. Usually after a show he felt a huge comedown. He felt isolated, it gave him a huge low."

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman recorded a verdict of suicide, ruling that McQueen killed himself "while the balance of his mind was disturbed".

"Yes, I have filed for divorce," the actress, 45, tells People Magazine in the latest issue, in which she also reveals she has adopted a son, 3½-month-old Louis.

A rep for Bullock confirms the star filed legal papers seeking to end her marriage, but declines to specify in what jurisdiction they are filed. Says Bullock of her decision to divorce: "I'm sad and I am scared."

It was a cheating scandal that rocked the couple's marriage, with several women claiming to have had illicit affairs with James, 41.

The motorcycle mogul, who has publicly apologized to Bullock and his three kids, recently returned home after a 30-day stay in a treatment facility where he sought help for "personal issues."

For much more on this story – including photos of Bullock with Louis and an emotional interview about her breakup with James and her life as a new mom – pick up the new issue of People Magazine, on newsstands Friday.

Jake Pavelka isn’t afraid to show his emotions! The former Bachelor star gave a heartfelt goodbye to Dancing with the Stars Tuesday after fans voted him off following a flawed performance with partner Chelsie Hightower Monday.

Through tears, he admitted he never “imagined how hard it would be to say goodbye,” as his heartbroken fiancée Vienna Girardi watched from the audience.

“Right now we’re a little bummed out, but it’s okay,” a more collected Pavelka said backstage following the show.

“It’s always a little bummer when you go off the show,” Hightower agreed. “But at same time, I feel at peace because there was nothing more that we could’ve done in this competition to do well.”Pavelka said what he’ll miss most “is the camaraderie with the other dancers,” and particularly his “best friend” Chelsea.

While toting the disco-ball trophy may not be in the stars for Pavelka, he guarantees dancing will be part of his future. “Dancing is part of me now!” he said. “The Latin dances are where my passions are.”

And Vienna better dust off her dancing shoes: Pavelka promises his future wife will join him on the dance floor soon. Until then, the couple is looking forward to some quality down time.

“I feel pretty sure that we will go to Tahiti or Hawaii and kick our feet up for a little while and focus on our relationship and just see where life takes us right after that,” Pavelka says.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

We are not sure exactly how many times singer Cher has announced her retirement from touring…but we know it has been more than once. Anyway, all of you Cher lovers are in luck because she has announced that she will tour again.

Currently the diva in under contract in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Colosseum. Once her Vegas stint ends, Cher plans to hit the road. Her three-year run will be completed in February 2011.

Cher has reportedly been inspired by new songs that she has been working on, as well as her work on the soundtrack for her upcoming film “Burlesque”, in collaboration with Christina Aguilera.

Next month you will get to hear Cher, 63, sing a new single, “Already Been There” at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo.

It is really excited to be following the career of Adam Lambert right now.

This dynamic talent has announced that he will kick off his first solo tour on June 4th. The Glam Nation Tour kicks off in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and is being described as an audio and visual spectacular.

“I hope the audience will be able to escape for a few hours and fall into a world full of glam, drama and excitement,” Adam said in a statement. “And I would love everyone to come away with a new appreciation for the music on my album.”

Added Adam’s manager and American Idol creator Simon Fuller: “Adam is one of the most exciting artists I have ever seen live on stage. As great as he was been on the ‘American Idols Live’ summer shows, this tour is going to surpass anything he’s done before. I think his millions of fans will remember this tour for the rest of their lives.”

Hugh Hefner just pulled a rabbit out of his hat to save Hollywood – the iconic sign, that is.

The Playboy founder has donated the final $900,000 needed to preserve 138 acres behind the film capital's most famous visual symbol on Mount Lee, just as time was running out.

"It would have been a real shame after having restored it if it wound up sold," Hefner, 84, said on Monday at the Hollywood premiere of Iron Man 2, with the legendary 45-foot white letters looming in the background. "It's become something iconic and represents not only the town but represents Hollywood dreams, and I think that's something worth preserving."

Developers have been eyeing the hillside, once owned by Howard Hughes, for luxury mansions, but a nonprofit land-conservation group was given the chance to buy the land for $12.5 million. As an April 30 deadline neared, the group was nearly $1 million short.

"I was aware of the fact that they were raising the money, but I only learned about a week ago that they were running out of time," said Hefner. "They only had about a week and a half left to go."

The sign was built in 1923 as part of a real-estate promotion, originally spelling out "Hollywoodland" (the "land" was removed in 1949). In 1978, after years of neglect, Hefner was one of a number of patrons who donated funds to restore it.

Meanwhile, Hefner continues to develop his own Hollywood fantasy: a feature film chronicling his life, with Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. potentially in the lead role.

"It would be my hope and dream," said Hefner. "Right after Iron Man first came out, he called me the following week and said, 'When are we going to start the Playboy film?' So, we have to get a good screenplay."

With just six weeks to go until the racy vampire drama True Blood returns to airwaves, HBO has released the first official cast photo from season 3, putting the love triangle between Bill (Stephen Moyer), Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) front and center.

But could the shot — which also features Kristin Bauer as Pam, Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette (who’s getting a love interest this season), Ryan Kwanten as Jason and Deborah Ann Wall as new vamp Jessica — foretell romance between former flames Sam (Sam Trammell) and Tara (Rutina Wesley), huddled together in back?

Only time will tell. True Blood‘s third season premieres June 13th on HBO.

Courtney Love appeared on the Howard Stern Show yesterday and shared a juicy bit of gossip with the radio shock jock. She claims that she had an 8-month affair with Gavin Rossdale while he was in a relationship with Gwen Stefani.

The Hole rocker told Stern that Gavin was “lovely” and though she knew he was with Gwen, she still had a “vision of marrying Gavin Rossdale”. She said, “We were like, ‘Let’s go spend our rock star money.’”

Love continued, “Everyone gave me so much s*** because Gavin sounded a lot like Kurt. But man, he was such an Adonis in his day! He got good in bed … something happened. Maybe Gwen taught him, for all I know.”

Stern asked, “You mean he was having sex with you while he was with her?” She replied, “Everyone … yeah … and a few other people. We didn’t have a lot of pressure on each other, but we did like each other quite a bit.”

This isn’t the first ex-lover of Rossdale to come forward. British singer Marilyn, aka Peter Robinson, claims the pair had a 5-year relationship.

Gwen and Gavin exchanged wedding vows in 2002 and have two sons.

Courtney Love’s decision to change her name to Courtney Michelle was big news just a few days ago. Apparently it was just a momentary blip on the radar screen because her rep has since announced that the musician was only speaking “metaphorically” when she suggested that she was finished with the old moniker that “oppressed” her.

Evan Lysacek — who already broke his toes — once again suffered an injury this week when he got a concussion during rehearsal.

Was falling on his neck bad as it sounded on TV? “It was twice as loud in real life,” he says. “When you have an accident like that, you get scared when you hear that noise. I thought, ‘Oh no, I have to skate tonight.’”

But he did and later he flew back to Los Angeles for more rehearsals. He still has headaches, but otherwise he’s fine — except for that low score of 21 on Monday night.

“We were disappointed,” he explains. “But I think they were expecting more from us. So we have to go back to the drawing board.”

Following a night of Argentine tangos, sexy sambas and a swing marathon, the seven remaining pairs on Dancing With the Stars — including low-finishers Niecy Nash and Louis Van Amstel and Jake Pavelka and Chelsie Hightower — faced another elimination Tuesday night.

Thanking his partner Hightower for being “one of my best friends,” Pavelka was bounced from what he called “the best season of Dancing With the Stars I’ve ever seen.”

“I can’t put into words how much I’ve enjoyed this,” he said through tears. “I didn’t imagine how hard it would be to say goodbye.”

David Beckham – who's recovering from an Achilles tendon tear – takes it one step at a time on Monday outside the Good Morning America studios in New York City before dropping by The View with wife Victoria.

A former reality TV star charged with violently attacking his pregnant girlfriend earlier this month has been arrested for witness intimidation.

Matt McDonald, who appeared on season nine of hit show Big Brother, was apprehended by Boston, Massachusetts police on April 18th after an unnamed woman filed a domestic violence complaint against him.

According to police reports, obtained by www.TMZ.com, McDonald and his family members waged a two-day campaign of intimidation against the accuser and her family, and demanded the woman, who is currently nine weeks pregnant, drop the charges.

McDonald was scheduled to face charges of assault and battery and assault and battery on a pregnant woman next month.

He was arrested for witness intimidation on April 20th, after police determined he may pose a serious threat to his accuser.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Despite a romantic wedding in St. Bart's just over four months ago, it seems that fashion industry power couple Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone may have broken up.

The New York Post reports that the couple of two years have gone their separate ways, with Jacobs attending his business partner Robert Duffy's Provincetown wedding solo last week.

Martone, a talent agency executive, may have already moved on, if New York gossip is to be believed. Unfortunately for those of us that admired the extremely fashionable couple, neither Jacobs' nor Martone's reps have dispelled the rumors, with both parties refusing to comment.

If the story of Adam Lambert's life ever got adapted for the big screen, the singer already knows who he'd like to portray him: Leonardo DiCaprio. The American Idol runner-up thinks the Hollywood heartthrob would be able to fill his shoes just great.

He said: "I have always thought that Leonardo DiCaprio is a really good actor - he could play me, he could get intense."

Adam, 28, also revealed he would love to work with David Bowie in the future, if the music legend could be tempted out of exile. He said: "To be able to work with David Bowie would be amazing - his imagination and creativity are beyond, he's an icon.The "No Boundaries" singer is also keen to do a duet with a female artist, especially Christina Aguilera or Rihanna. He revealed in a web chat with MySpace Music: "I'd also like to sing with Christina Aguilera - I love her voice, I've been a fan since she came out and I think we would throw down and we would be loud... I would love to work with Rihanna as well - she is so down to earth and sweet and kind and friendly. Her tunes are so catchy and visually she is just giving you beauty."

Sibling revelry: Now that Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are altar-bound, Anna's older brother has given his blessing to his sister's True Blood costar joining the family.

"I absolutely approve! Steve will be an amazing husband to Anna and a great brother-in-law," Andrew Paquin said at Saturday's Tribeca Film Festival premiere of his directorial debut movie, Open House, which also happens to star Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Assuming the role of the protective older brother, Andrew, 33, has no problem with the 40-year-old English actor marrying his 27-year-old sister. In fact, Andrew and Moyer have become close buddies themselves.

"She's in very good hands," says Andrew. "Steve's a lovely man and a really great guy. He's become a very good friend. Everything is great and I'm really happy for them."

A psychological thriller, Open House was filmed in Andrew's own home – before his sister and Moyer became engaged. Still, the director says he saw something special brewing between them.

"They have amazing chemistry together on and off the screen. There's something special going on, and they understand and respect each other."

Now with their plans to tie the knot, "They are certainly in love and very good to each other and very kind to each other," says Andrew. "That's important."

And while, like all siblings, they fought while growing up, when it came to directing his Academy Award-winning sister, "It was fantastic … but I was nervous because she's such a good actress," he says.

"We only had two days together and it was my first time directing and I wanted to do a good job. But she made my life pretty easy as a director. She knows her lines perfectly and she understands her character."

Whitney Houston may have performed her megahit "I Will Always Love You" at her sold-out London concert on Sunday – but apparently scores of her fans didn't share the sentiment.

Despite paying up to $170 a ticket, disappointed concertgoers streamed out of the singer's show at the O2 Arena after Houston failed to hit the high notes and she rasped her way through several attempts at the song. To her credit, the singer, 46, knew she was disappointing the crowd, and she shook her head and tried to reassure the audience.

"Oh, it's going to come," Houston announced mid-song. "I wanna do it – but [my voice] just doesn’t want to. I have long talks with her. Well, tonight she's getting a little temperamental."

Houston, whose European tour has been plagued by her respiratory illness, also blamed her vocal troubles on the venue's air-conditioning, which she told fans "turned my soprano off." (Houston also cited the a/c as the cause of similar problems at her Birmingham, England, show weeks before.)

For real fans, though, the singer's apparent performance troubles were no problem at all. Many were just thrilled to see her in the U.K. again, since her last official tour date in the British capital in 1999.

"She was incredibly brave to come out and perform," concert attendee Maria Montague told PEOPLE at the show. "Even though she struggled at times, I think she did well considering what's she's been through."

According to longtime fan Kevin Hughes: "The voice has definitely deteriorated, but the showmanship and the sheer entertainment value is still there. She’s still a star."

With her hosting gig less than two weeks away, Betty White is using her first Saturday Night Live promo to answer a question she thinks is on people's minds: Is the Golden Girl also a cougar?

White, 88, landed the hosting job after a fervent fan campaign on the internet. But the web is also full of idle gossip, she says – so she's putting to rest rumors about her love life.

When White hosts the show May 8th, it will be her first time in Studio 8H. "I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day weekend than with Betty White," executive producer Lorne Michaels wrote on the SNL blog.

For a long time, it seemed like Molly Ringwald was frozen in time in all those wonderful John Hughes movies she starred in in the 80s.

She left an indelible impression in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink, among other films.

Molly’s never stopped working in movies (Betsy’ Wedding), television (Townies) and on the Broadway stage (Cabaret, Learning to Drive). But it’s only since she took the role of a mother of a pregnant teen in the ABC Family series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, that Molly has returned to the spotlight in a big way.

Her show is in its third season, she has a new self-help book out called Getting the Pretty Back, and Molly also reunited with several of her co-stars from the Hughes films for a tribute to their late director at this year’s Academy Awards.

Molly had a nice chat with Brandon Voss for The Advocate and here's a portion of their conversation:

Tell me about the humorous “Vote No on Prop. 8” video that you and your husband filmed in 2008.My friend Matt knew somebody that was doing it and wanted me to be a part of it, so of course I said I would. It was important to me to do because it seems absolutely crazy that people who love each other can’t marry. It’s unfair the way the whole Prop. 8 thing went down — the act of voting no on something instead of yes was confusing, and it felt like a train wreck from the very beginning. Right now it’s frustrating, but years from now it’s going to seem crazy, like, “Oh, my God, we had slavery? We thought it was OK to enslave people?” Matt and Greg, the godparents of my children, have a relationship and a marriage that most people could only aspire to have.

Have you always been conscious of your gay fan base?Since most my friends are gay, it would be hard not to be aware of it now, but I don’t think I realized it early on in my career because I don’t know that I definitely had that fan base until later. I became pretty aware of it in the ’90s, after some time had passed, and especially when I was living in New York and doing a lot of theater.

I feel like the gay community might’ve identified with the general outcast characters in your John Hughes films, but why do you think there was no gay representation?Maybe it was just too soon and too controversial at the time, but from what I understand, John was a big Republican. I really didn’t know this back then, and maybe he wasn’t when I was working with him, but I guess he became one. Not to say that all Republicans are antigay, but historically, you know, that has to rub off a little bit, right?

Though there were no gay characters, homosexuality was addressed in those early films through the frequent use of the word “fag.” Your character, Samantha, called Anthony Michael Hall’s Geek a “fag” in Sixteen Candles. “You die, fag” is scrawled on Bender’s locker in The Breakfast Club. And though it’s never spelled out, some of those outcast characters I mentioned — Duckie in Pretty in Pink, Brian in The Breakfast Club — almost seem like gay characters, in a way.Yeah, completely! I totally know what you mean, and if those films were done today, those characters probably would’ve been gay. But sometimes I wonder if John was even aware of that. I don’t know that he was. What made those movies so interesting and so hard for people to replicate is that for some reason John was still somehow emotionally in the mind-set of those teenagers. Usually you can hear when an adult clearly wrote something for a kid character, but John’s movies don’t sound like that because he was still emotionally in that place. So you know how some kids can be gay and not know it? Or maybe they kind of know it but aren’t facing it? I feel like maybe John was writing those characters like that.

You were a regular on the first season of The Facts of Life. What do you remember about that infamous 1979 pilot episode, in which Blair insinuates that her tomboy classmate, Cindy, is a lesbian?I remember nothing about that. Wow. Now that you say that, it sort of rings a bell, but I did not remember that at all.

Were you too young to understand the gay implications?I knew what being gay was before I did Facts of Life because I did the West Coast production of Annie, which opened in San Francisco, and all the dressers were gay. I remember my mom talking to me about it. I was actually in San Francisco right when all that stuff was going on with Harvey Milk. I remember my mom talking to me about the Twinkie defense, and she told me the whole story of the murders, how it was a travesty, and how it never should’ve happened. We had conversations about what it meant to be gay, so I knew about that when I did Facts of Life, but for some reason I don’t remember that episode.

Your character was phased out at the very beginning of season 2, but surely you remember the sexual tension between Blair and Jo when Nancy McKeon joined the cast.[Laughs] You know, Nancy McKeon sort of replaced me in a way. They were trimming down the cast to just four girls, and originally I was going to be one of those girls. But then they changed their mind, decided to go with Nancy McKeon, and booted me out.

Monday, April 26, 2010

A Spanish-language tabloid claims that Ricky Martin used to secretly date Chasing Papi star Eduardo Verástegui, a Latin model, actor and singer. Verástegui is no stranger to gay rumors. But he was also the face of California's "Yes on 8" campaign against gay marriage.

The tabloid TV y Novelas claims the two were a couple when they were both in the closet. Like Martin, Verástegui also started out in a boy band, but he went on to star in Spanish-language TV shows and lots of shirtless photoshoots. According to this report he went right-wing around 2006 and made an anti-abortion message movie and even palled around with John McCain. It culminated in this commercial supporting California's Proposition 8, which eventually passed and robbed gay folks in the state of legally tying the knot.

Now this information is all very speculative. Who really knows if supermarket tabloids are ever right (even though the Enquirer taught us they often are), or whether or not Verástegui is even gay. (The gay rumors are numerous but of the standard variety.) What we can say is that it's great that Ricky moved on from this dude and eventually found his way out of the closet. Denying who you truly are can seriously messed up things to your head.

How could Two and a Half Men ever continue without Charlie Sheen? Well, it can’t and apparently it won’t.For months the highest paid actor on televsion has been going through nothing but drama.

In March Sheen plead not guilty to domestic violence charges, then there was the speculation that he was leaving his hit sitcom, and of course his latest problems include addiction issues and the whole shaving head incident. Needless to say, Charlie seems to be hitting rock bottom.

Did people really think the show could go on without the lead character? Many have assumed it was just a negotiating tactic, while others predicted the show would continue on without the actor.

An insider told Radaronline, “There has been absolutely no discussion about reworking Two and a Half Men without Charlie. No one is even considering it, at this moment, if Charlie doesn’t come back, that’s the end of the series.”

Rumor has it that after spending seven years on the sitcom, Charlie is ready to move on to other endeavors. The break would certainly give him some space to get his personal life back together before he works on his professional life.

The upside is that Two and a Half Men would be going on while still on top — not a bad place to leave things.

As last night’s episode of Brothers & Sisters drew to a close, Kevin and Scotty were laying on their bed looking at books of baby names. They even kissed!

What is the world coming to? Reality, I'd say!

Brothers and Sisters creators and writers have allowed the relationship and now marriage of Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) to grow over four seasons into the happiest and most solid of all of the Walker siblings.

The happy couple has been trying to have a baby via surrogate and on Sunday’s episode, found out that they are going to become daddies!

This is a beautiful thing and such a contrast to how poorly ABC daytime handled the relationship between Oliver (Scott Evans) and Kyle (Brett Claywell) by writing them off One Life to Live just as they welcomed Oliver’s baby daughter into their lives. The show blamed the gay storyline for a rating plummet but now ratings are even lower.

It’s just so nice to have things being handled differently in ABC primetime.

He came, he sang, he smiled. In the end, Duncanville, Texas, resident Tim Urban, 20, proved to be the best of sports in a tough American Idol arena where he was called everything from Teflon to Turban to, most recently, soup of the day by Ellen DeGeneres.People Magazine's Cynthia Want caught up with Urban about his Idol experience and what’s next.

Your exit came on Idol Gives Back night. Was there a small comfort in that? What would you have sung if there had been time?Yeah. It really did make a difference for me. We had been hearing a lot about Idol Gives Back in the last couple of weeks and I really wanted to be a part of it and to know I got to be a part of it, it made going home not quite as hard. I was planning on singing “Hallelujah” just one more time. I think that would have been a good song to go out on because it’s a song that’s special to me.

You were mentored by Alicia Keys — was it good to see her perform? What else did you learn from the past mentors?She was amazing! We were on our feet, just standing and watching her and it was an incredible performance by her. The mentors all had pieces of the puzzle. Like Usher, for instance, was about connecting with the music, connecting with what you are doing, and then Adam Lambert with different ways to make music interesting and make people really want to listen and to showcase who you are as an artist, and Alicia Keys with her encouragement and letting me know that there is an avenue I can go down.

What kind of artist do you see yourself as?If I was going to do an album right now, it would be sort of the singer-songwriter, Jason Mraz style, but with a little bit of the soft-rock leaning as well. I want the songs to be really relatable. I want songs that people can go, “All right, I can see that in my own life, I can see that happening around me.”

You’ve expressed an interest in acting, too. Do you see yourself on Glee? On Broadway?That’s something I really want to do. That’s something I would really love to pursue and if possible I will be doing that. I would really be excited if I got the opportunity to do [Glee] as well, but I’m kind of just waiting to see what happens but I am open to anything at this point.

You have a lot of female fans, which must be a plus!It’s been really cool because they are really energetic, which is really encouraging to me, because I’m like, “All right. These are people really excited about what I’m doing.” It’s such a crazy thing, though, for me, having that many people supporting me. I never thought it would happen.

You’ve also seen some detractors on the Internet. Do you avoid blogs or how do you handle negative comments on the Web?I don’t go looking for it, and I don’t want to read that kind of thing, but if I do, I don’t let it affect me that much. Every year, people are going to pick somebody they don’t like, or they’re just going to decide to write stuff about someone and it happened to be me this year. I can deal with it. It’s part of the game, and it’s one person’s opinion, or a couple people’s opinions, and I will take it as that and not worry about it.

With your parents and nine brothers and sisters, you’ve been on your share of road trips. Was that great preparation for being on a tour bus with the Idols this summer?It really was! I also went on a mission trip to Europe for seven weeks and I was on a big tour bus with 45 other people, so I have definitely had quite a bit of prep for this kind of thing!

Hope is not lost for fans of Glee and Jennifer Lopez! The Back-up Plan star is still lobbying for a guest role on FOX’s hit musical comedy.

When asked by Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show about the rumors that she’ll do the show, Lopez says, “I sat down with [show creator] Ryan Murphy and we talked me doing something on Glee. We want to. We want to do it,” though timing may be an issue. “They have it all mapped out for the next like eight episodes,” she says, “whatever is airing right now. So he’s like let’s wait and do it really right when you do come on.”

Murphy has said he’d like Lopez to play a cafeteria lady at McKinley High. And the character would get a makeover from Chris Colfer‘s character Kurt, the actor has said.

The wife of Michael C. Hall says the Dexter star is "fully recovered" from cancer and has returned to work.

Jennifer Carpenter said Friday that Hall was "incredibly brave" when he announced in January that he was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymph nodes.

The 38-year-old Hall went into remission and continued treatment at a health facility near Los Angeles.

Hall won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award earlier this year for his portrayal of Dexter, a serial killer who targets other murderers. Carpenter stars on the bloody Showtime hit series as Dexter's seemingly unknowing sister.

He may have lost out to Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on American Idol last season, but Danny Gokey has plenty to smile about. The former truck driver's first record, My Best Days, had the strongest album debut for a new male country artist in 18 years. And his single, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me," is a top 10 country hit.

"I feel very lucky," Gokey, 29, says of "the progression I've made in the last year and a half." The Milwaukee native has a famously tragic back story, including the 2008 loss of his young wife, Sophia, after a routine heart surgery. As a result, in addition to pouring himself into his music, Gokey is also hard at work expanding Sophia's Heart Foundation, a nonprofit organization honoring his late wife and aimed at connecting school children with music and art.

"I've very busy and enjoying life again," he says. "I'm very happy."

Gokey – who is opening for country powerhouse Sugarland on tour this spring – adds that he "hasn't found anyone to date yet." But in his lyrics and in his life, the singer is open to the possibility of falling in love again.

Of his song "Crazy Not To," he says, it "is about somebody who has experienced the pain of love and doesn't want to go down that path again. But, they find someone so special, they'd be crazy not to pursue it."

"Women really like it," says Gokey of the tune. "It's becoming their favorite song on the album."

Friday, April 23, 2010

Jake Gyllenhaal embodies an action star – literally – in his new movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, according to his costar Gemma Arterton.

"He has so much action, but he does really well at it," Arterton says in a video promoting the movie, due in theaters May 28th. "He's a bit of an action figure himself, I think."

Gyllenhaal, 29, who plays the Prince of Dastan, definitely has an action figure physique for his role.

In the flick, Gyllenhaal’s buff character joins forces with a princess, Tamina (Arterton), in medieval Persia to fight a furious leader who is trying to destroy the world by stirring up a devastating sandstorm.

"She realizes that his destiny is actually part of her destiny," says Arterton, 24.

But does Gyllenhaal really believe in fate? He just might. "I think there are signs all along the way throughout our life that tell us things that we can either pay attention to – or not," he says.

Tim Urban talked to Entertainment Tonight about being voted off American Idol. Here's what he had to say:

“It was just such a blessing to be here,” Tim Urban says. “I couldn’t help but smile even when the judges were criticizing me. I didn’t want to get depressed about the comments.”

“The last couple of weeks, I showed America the kind of artist I would be. A couple of weeks, I was groping around. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I finally settled down and let myself be myself on the show. Looking back, I really feel I did what I wanted to do.”

Tim certainly made a lot of fans while on the show thanks to his improve performances but mostly because he is so darn cute. He says he would love to act and he does seem like a natural for a guest spot of Glee.

“I would love to pursue music,” he says. “I hope that door opens up, but I have always had a desire to act — to be in that side of the entertainment industry, as well. I am waiting to see what happens.”

When it comes to his nickname, “Teflon Tim,” because he was in the bottom two so many times but still made it to the Top Seven, plus the fact that the website www.votefortheworst.com featured him so many weeks, he takes the high road.

“I am not excited that I was on their website,” he admits. “I don’t think it is anything that anybody should be proud of. I was working hard to get off of it.”

Christina Aguilera is on a mission to promote her upcoming CD "Bionic" and what better way to do it than with a guest appearance on one of the biggest television shows. That’s right, numerous sources are confirming that the singer will be performing on the much anticipated American Idol finale in May.

The pop singer released a statement via her website expressing her enthusiasm about her CD, “I couldn’t be more excited to finally share this material with you all and I wanted to reach out and let you know what this project is all about for me… You will find on this album songs that represent the many sides of me. I have learned that like all women I am sometimes capable of being superhuman. Like all women I am Bionic.”

Aguilera has been out of the spotlight for awhile and if she wants to make a big comeback, American Idol is a good start. Gearing up for her fourth studio album, Christina has been on a publicity tour visiting radio stations and doing numerous interviews. American Idol is just one of the many stops she will make while promoting her latest project.

If a performance on American Idol is not enough Christina for you, make sure you mark June 8th down on your calender. Not only is that the release date for her album but in celebration she will be doing a 30-minute concert live on the Today Show. You can also catch the singer with Cher in “Burlesque”, her first feature film out in November.

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